Forget having hundreds of friends on Facebook, we need just five trusted people in our lives, researchers say. To cope with modern life we want an agony aunt, an emotional support, someone good with money, a practically minded person and a colleague we can ask for work advice.
The
research shows a minimum of five friends and colleagues are now required to
share out our problems and get useful advice from. Top of the list is an agony
aunt figure we can tell our problems to, followed by a loved one who will put
an arm around us and provide emotional support.
The
third most in demand is someone to help us out with financial matters and
advise us how to save money. And fourth is a knowledgeable friend or family
member we can turn to for advice on life’s practical matters.
The
fifth most important is a colleague we can look to for help and advice in the
workplace, according to the study by Nationwide Building Society. However, the
research reveals that despite the average Facebook user having 190 friends, 32
per cent of Brits still don’t feel they really have anyone on their side.
Men
are twice as likely to feel they have no one to turn to (42 per cent) in their
daily lives as women (23 per cent). And perhaps giving the lie to the notion
those in the north are friendlier, people (73 per cent) in the South East of
England feel more supported than any other region.
Sadly,
it seems that age diminishes our support network with Brits over the age of 55
feeling they have fewer trusted friends (40 per cent) than any other age group.
The research shows our main needs are for someone to listen to our problems (23
per cent), to provide emotional support (18 per cent) and to ease the pressures
of everyday life (18 per cent).
The current economic climate is also preying on people’s minds, with money issues now one of the main reasons people feel the need for a support network. One in six (16 per cent) say they need someone to help them save money or get rid of debt, according to the study of 1,047
The
research shows support at work is more important to men, with 11 per looking
for advice in this area compared to just five per cent of women. In contrast,
15 per cent of women say they need someone they can turn to to help them manage
family relationships.
Susan
Quilliam, relationship psychologist, said: 'No matter how strong and
independent people are, we all need someone to lean on at key stages in life. 'It
could be an ear to listen, a wise head to provide some advice, a shoulder to
cry on or someone who is completely removed from the situation you are in. 'Strong
support networks are essential to help alleviate the pressures of life,
decision-making and ultimately, stop people from feeling like they are on their
own.
'It
might be a life-changing decision, a topic you find hard to talk about, an
everyday rant or a light-hearted chat about something you consider trivial - it
doesn’t matter. 'Talking to different people and seeking advice can provide
fresh perspectives, impartial points-of-view and help you think more laterally
about a subject or stage in your life.
'No-one
should or can make decisions for you but the knowledge that someone else is on
your side can make all the difference when it comes to your wellbeing.'
Office
worker Simon Turner, 27, of London
Andy
McQueen, Marketing Director at Nationwide, said: 'When times are good, people
tend to worry whether they are on the right career path or whether they are
achieving long-held ambitions. 'But when times are bad - such as when the
economy is suffering - people are forced to worry about everyday essentials,
like whether they can cover their bills.'
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2177423/Why-friends-need-life.html#ixzz21Sp7J96u
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